Workers At Delta Seek Vote On Union

The Use Of Subcontractors Worries The Ramp Agents Who Want Union Representation.

September 16, 1997|By Roger Roy of The Sentinel Staff

A union seeking to represent Delta Air Lines ramp agents asked federal labor officials Monday to hold an election on the issue.

The ramp agents, whose duties include baggage handling and guiding aircraft to the loading gate, are one of several groups of employees seeking to organize at Delta, which is the least-unionized major airline.

Delta is the largest carrier at Orlando International Airport, where the airline employs about 1,900 workers. The airline has about 550 ramp agents at OIA..

Petitioning the National Mediation Board for an election requires signatures from 35 percent of the affected employees. Union representation must be approved by a majority of the workers who return mail-in ballots.

Delta ramp agents seeking unionization are worried about the airline's increasing use of subcontractors, said Steve Roberts, an organizer for Transport Workers Union of America.

''It's a job security issue,'' Roberts said. ''Without a contract, Delta can tell them tomorrow they're out of a job, and there's nothing they can do about it.''

Delta spokesman Todd Clay said the airline pays among the highest salaries in the industry and that workers enjoy good job security. ''Delta workers have a right to have whoever they want represent them,'' he said. However, ''We would hope that they would feel that an outside third party is not necessary.''

The union also is attempting to organize Delta's ticket agents, mechanics and reservation agents, but has not received enough signatures to seek an election. Of Delta's nearly 60,000 employees, only pilots are represented by a union.

The election for the 8,000 ramp agents could be held within 90 days, Roberts said. The airline's mechanics are expected to be the next group to request an election, he said.